Apple Tree Named &#39;R203&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘R203’ is a new variety of apple tree selected for its distinctive and flavorful red and yellow-white fleshed fruit, which is well-suited for the fresh market.

Latin name: Malus domestica.

Variety denomination: ‘R203’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

‘R203’ is a new and distinct variety of apple tree (Malus domestica)obtained from a controlled cross of ‘HY52’ (female parent, notpatented)x ‘Scifresh’ (male parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,888) carriedout at Seiches sur le Loir, France in 2003. Seeds obtained from thecross were planted at Seiches sur le Loir, and ‘R203’ was selected fromthe resulting seedlings for propagation and further observation. ‘R203’was first asexually propagated by grafting at Seiches sur le Loir in2004, and has since been observed to remain true to type throughsuccessive asexually propagated generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The ‘R203’ apple tree is distinguished by its sweet red and yellow-whitefleshed fruit. Comparisons of ‘R203’ to its parents and to similarvariety ‘R201’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,218) are shown in Tables 1, 2 and3 below.

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘R203’ to Female Parent ‘HY52-1’ Characteristic‘R203’ ‘HY52-1’ Flesh color Red 45A (50%) and Red is lighter in toneyellow-white 158D (50%) and less intense Harvest date 15 days after‘HY52-1’ 15 days before ‘R203’ (Nov. 19, 2020) Brix 14° Brix at harvest13° Brix at harvest Eating More firm, juicy Less firm, juicy quality andaromatic and aromatic

TABLE 2 Comparison of ‘R203’ to Male Parent ‘Scifresh’ Characteristic‘R203’ ‘Scifresh’ Skin color Dark purple red 59A Red 45A Pattern ofSolid flush with weakly Weakly defined flush with overcolor definedstripes strongly defined stripes Flesh color Red 45A (50%) and Lightyellow 4D (100%) yellow-white 158D (50%) Full bloom date Later (Apr. 18,2019) Earlier (Apr. 10, 2019) Storageability Medium Very good

TABLE 3 Comparison of ‘R203’ to Similar Variety ‘R201’ Characteristic‘R203’ ‘R201’ Fruit size Smaller (188 g) Larger (218 g) Flesh color Red45A (50%) and Red 47A (80%) and yellow-white 158D (50%) white 155C (20%)Leaf blade margin Serrate type 1 Biserrate Russet on fruit Weak MediumApple scab resistance Absent Present (Rvi6 gene)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs were obtained in 2020 at Seiches sur leLoir, France of trees planted in 2015.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of an ‘R203’ apple tree with leaves and fruit;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of an ‘R203’ apple tree;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a one-year-old shoot of an ‘R203’ apple tree;

FIG. 4 is a photograph of leaves of an ‘R203’ apple tree;

FIG. 5 is a photograph of the trunk of an ‘R203’ apple tree;

FIG. 6 is a photograph of whole fruit from an ‘R203’ apple tree;

FIG. 7 is a photograph of whole fruit from an ‘R203’ apple tree;

FIG. 8 is a photograph of sectioned fruit from an ‘R203’ apple tree;and,

FIG. 9 is a photograph of sectioned fruit from an ‘R203’ apple tree.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following detailed botanical description were obtained at Seichessur le Loir, France during 2020 (unless otherwise noted), of treesplanted in 2015 and grown on Pajam®2 ‘Cepiland’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.7,715) rootstock. All colors are described according to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. It should be understood that thecharacteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon culturalpractices and climatic conditions, and will vary with location andseason. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average ofmeasurements taken from a number of individual plants of the newvariety. The measurements of any individual plant or any group of plantsof the new variety may vary from the stated average.

-   Tree:    -   -   Vigor.—Weak to medium.        -   Type.—Ramified.        -   Habit.—Drooping.        -   Spread of mature tree.—1.8 meters.        -   Height.—2.0 m.        -   Trunk diameter (at 30 cm above the graft).—44.2 mm.        -   Bark texture.—Rough.        -   Bark color.—Brown N200C.        -   Lenticel length.—3.7 mm.        -   Lenticel width.—1.0 mm.        -   Lenticel height.—0.5 mm.        -   Lenticel shape.—Medium to very elongated ovate.        -   Lenticel color.—Greyed-green 194A.        -   Lenticel quantity.—Few.-   Branch (fruiting branches located at around 1 m above the graft    union):    -   -   Length.—91 cm.        -   Diameter.—23.7 mm.        -   Crotch angle.—80°.        -   Bark color.—Brown N200C.        -   Lenticel length.—2.3 mm.        -   Lenticel width.—1.0 mm.        -   Lenticel height.—0.5 mm.        -   Lenticel shape.—Moderately elongated ovate.        -   Lenticel color.—Greyed-green 194A.-   One year old shoot:    -   -   Length.—32.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—3.25 mm.        -   Growth pattern.—Straight.        -   Color.—Purple N77A.        -   Pubescence.—Absent or very weak.        -   Internode length.—3.7 cm.        -   Lenticel length.—1.3 mm.        -   Lenticel width.—1.0 mm.        -   Lenticel height.—0.1 mm.        -   Lenticel shape.—Round to slightly elongated ovate.        -   Lenticel color.—Brown 199C.        -   Vegetative bud shape.—Conic.        -   Vegetative bud color.—Purple N77A.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Stage described.—53 (BBCH).        -   Quantity per spur.—3.        -   Bud shape.—Medium ovate.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded.        -   Length.—13 mm.        -   Diameter.—7 mm.        -   Color.—Red-purple 59A.-   Flowers:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.        -   Diameter of fully open flower.—50 mm.        -   Depth of fully open flower.—13 mm.        -   Relative position of petal margin.—Touching.        -   Number per cluster.—5.9.        -   Date of first bloom.—Apr. 15 (2019); 1 day after ‘Golden            Delicious’.        -   Date of full bloom.—Apr. 18 (2019); 1 day after ‘Golden            Delicious’.        -   Pollination requirement.—Not known.-   Petals:    -   -   Number per flower.—5.        -   Petal shape.—Moderately elongated ovate.        -   Length.—24 mm.        -   Width.—13 mm.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded to acute.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color of upper surface.—Red-purple 64B.        -   Color of lower surface.—Red-purple 64B.        -   Color of venation.—Red-purple 71A.        -   Petal vein prominence.—Medium.-   Pistils:    -   -   Length.—12.8 mm.        -   Color.—Red-purple 59D.-   Stigma:    -   -   Diameter.—0.5 mm.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange 164B.        -   Position of stigma relative to anther.—Above.-   Style:    -   -   Length.—7.4 mm.        -   Color.—Red-purple 59D.-   Ovary:    -   -   Length.—3.4 mm.        -   Color.—White NN155C.-   Stamens:    -   -   Quantity.—17.7 mm.        -   Length.—8.5 mm.        -   Color of anther.—Red 49C red and red-purple 64B.        -   Pollen presence.—Present in moderate quantity.        -   Pollen color.—Yellow 7D.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—22.9 mm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 mm.        -   Color.—Greyed-purple 183B.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Color of upper surface.—Green 143C.        -   Color of lower surface.—Greyed-red 178A.        -   Sepal shape.—Very elongated triangular.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Margin (smooth, serrated, etc.).—Entire.-   Leaves:    -   -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Length.—101 mm.        -   Width.—48 mm.        -   Blade margin.—Serrate type 1.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base shape.— Acute.        -   Profile in cross section.—Concave.        -   Leaf color-upper surface.—Green 137A, primary vein            red-purple 59A.        -   Leaf color-lower surface.—Greyed-green 194A.        -   Attitude in relation to shoot.—Upward.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—26 mm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Color.—Red-purple 59A with greyed-purple 187A near base.-   Fruit:    -   -   Diameter.—72 mm.        -   Height.—73 mm.        -   Height to width.—1:1.        -   Weight.—188 g.        -   General shape in profile.—Conic.        -   Position of maximum diameter.—Moderately toward base.        -   Ribbing.—Weak to medium.        -   Crowning at calyx end.—Weak.        -   Bloom of skin.—Absent or weak.        -   Greasiness of skin.—Weak.        -   Background color of skin.—Orange 26D (after storage).        -   Over color of skin.—Red-purple 59A (after storage).        -   Amount of over color.—90%.        -   Intensity of over color.—Intense.        -   Pattern of over color.—Solid flush with weakly defined            stripes.        -   Amount of russet around stalk cavity.—Absent or weak.        -   Amount of russet on cheeks.—Absent or weak.        -   Area of russet around eye basin.—Absent.        -   Length of stalk.—30 mm.        -   Diameter of stalk.—2 mm.        -   Stalk color.—Greyed-purple 183A.        -   Depth of stalk cavity.—17 mm.        -   Width of stalk cavity.—33 mm.        -   Depth of eye basin.—5 mm.        -   Width of eye basin.—28 mm.        -   Diameter of eye.—10 mm.        -   Length of sepal.—6 mm.        -   Firmness of flesh.—7.5 kg/cm ².        -   Flesh texture.—Medium, neither fine nor coarse.        -   Number of locules.—5.        -   Locule length.—10 mm.        -   Locule width.—4 mm.        -   Aroma, flavor.—Aromatic, balanced acid and sugar.        -   Juiciness.—Very juicy.        -   Brix.—13.7° Brix.        -   Flesh color.—Red 45A (50%, near the skin and core) and            yellow-white 158D (50%); See FIGS. 8 and 9.-   Seeds:    -   -   Quantity per fruit.—Average 6.4.        -   Length.—9.2 mm.        -   Width.—4.6 mm.        -   Shape.—Moderately elongated ovate.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange 166A.-   Harvest:    -   -   Harvest date.—Oct. 13 (2020); one week before ‘Fuji’.        -   Number of picks.—1.-   Disease resistance/susceptibility: None noted.-   Eating quality: Very good.-   Storageability: Moderate.-   Market use: Fresh consumption.

1. A new and distinct apple tree substantially as described andillustrated herein.